Coffee and Almond Croissants:

Feeling Local While on the Road 

I would think that it’s an almost unattainable goal of many travelers to be able to feel like a local while traveling.  We all know that there are certain places that we’ve all been to that made us feel like we belonged.   

Is what we strive for, the familiarities that we have at home while we travel?   

For instance, try this out the next time you are away from home.  While taking in your new surroundings, search for a replacement “favourite” café, bar, or bike trail.   

What would easily be a quick blast down the street back home will turn into an all out expedition in search of the ‘known’.  This is also a great way to explore new cities.  In search of ‘known’ takes you down some unfamiliar paths, back alleys and words of advice, all in search of the familiar.  Before you know it, you just gave yourself a self guided walking tour around unfamiliar settings. 

Even though I’m an advocate for traveling in search of the unknown, what I’m really searching for is belonging.  I want to be able to walk into a local café and ask for a coffee and almond croissant. 

That’s what life is all about.